We here at MIWRC are committed to the safety of our staff and community. Our work and mission charge each of us to practice the sacred values while assisting others on their healing journeys. Together, we are facing confusing and frightening times that require us all to connect across fear, practice generosity collectively, and role model loving behavior towards all our relatives while we care for ourselves to ensure our ability to continue to serve.
To prepare for the challenges that lie ahead, please take time to grieve, cleanse, reflect, and boldly embrace creativity. We feel optimistic that we will come through this stronger and better together.
Here are the ways in which MIWRC is addressing the immediate future:
All staff are to work remotely as much as possible until further notice.
• On-site services and programs will close while we spend the next two weeks developing a mindful and coherent response to this emerging global pandemic
• We will hold internal and external meetings via Zoom and go-to meetings.
• We will communicate with funders, including county, state, and other partners, to identify flexible strategies for meeting project deliverables under these new circumstances
• We are developing and implementing technology to offer a new telehealth service for our clinical work, creating a model to safely serve the community during this rapidly unfolding crisis while ensuring agency sustainability.
• We are exploring additional income-generating services through online and webinar-based trainings. This will create opportunities for each of our staff to share expertise and build continuing education for the clinical community throughout Indian Country, and all providers serving our community.
We also are also aware of rumors circulating about our organization and staff that are sick. Statewide, COVID-19 testing capacity is extremely limited, and no one is being tested right now unless hospitalized. Please be reassured that there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 among MIWRC staff and be mindful of the power of our words both inside and outside the agency.
In this time, what we will be remembered for is the kindness we demonstrate. Please be kind to yourselves, to your loved ones, and to your neighbors.
We're thinking of all of you during this challenging time. We welcome and expect questions and look forward to working with each of you as we consider the current scenario.
Sending thoughts of healing, air-hugs, and positive vibrations to everyone!
With love,
MIWRC Executive Leadership Team – David, Heather, & Jennifer
Governor Walz Announces Action to Address Homelessness
Governor Tim Walz announced a broad collaborative effort with State and local governments, businesses, community leaders, and non-profit organizations to address the urgent and immediate need for shelter and housing for those of us who are homeless, or experiencing housing insecurity. Here are photos from the press conference held in MIWRC’s Community Room:
Governor Walz along with local, state, and business leaders.
Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan with MIWRC CEO Patina Park.
MIWRC Outreach Worker Jenny Bjorgo talks with Governor Walz.
As It Happens...
CEO Patina Park was a guest on the CBC show “As It Happens” talking about the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women’s Lady Justice Task Force at the Federal level.
The episode aired on November 27. Check it out here if you are in Canada. Otherwise, the CBC posted a news story about the issue.
MIWRC Has Been Awarded The Bush Prize
MIWRC is a Bush Prize Recipient!
Here is the announcement from the Bush Foundation.
Here is Patina’s announcement:
Fall Feast 2019!
Join us for our Fall Feast, Thursday, October 31 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
Results from Our 6/27 Ribbon Skirt Event
Thank you to all the volunteers who helped make the June 27 Ribbon Skirts for Our Incarcerated Sisters gathering a success! The Religious Services Department at MCF Shakopee requested 15 ribbon skirts to be worn by our incarcerated relatives during sweat lodge, powwows, and ceremonies. With the help of more than 30 volunteers, we received a teaching from Ojibwe Great Grandmother Mary Lyons and completed 10 skirts during the event. Since then, MIWRC staff finished 5 more skirts in order to deliver the full donation to Shakopee as requested. See below for some feedback from the event attendees and a slideshow of photos!
What did you learn today that you did not know before?
-That the process of making a ribbon skirt is more than just sewing. It’s prayer and power and blessing.
-Teachings about the ribbon skirt and its meaning to Native women.
-How to use sticky double sided tape to make the ribbons straight!
How will you use this information in your life?
-I want to make my own ribbon skirts and teach my daughters and grandchildren.
-I will be more thoughtful of my words going forward.
-I am very comforted to know that we all come from the stars, and we are all connected.
What did you like most about coming today?
-It was a blessing to hear the stories from our Elders.
-Being with positive vibes from all the other women and being taught culture.
-That the skirts made were being donated to incarcerated women at Shakopee Prison to be used during ceremonies.
What could we do to improve the gathering?
-No onions!
-More sessions - maybe open a sewing circle?
-I wish we got more skirts done, that’s all!
This event was funded in part by the State of Minnesota Department of Human Services, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division, American Indian Section.
Serve as an AmeriCorps VISTA at MIWRC
Learn more here http://www.mcnvista.org/apply-to-be-a-vista and apply today! https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=88196&fromSearch=true
Support MIWRC through local artists
Support local artist https://www.facebook.com/ThePrairieWillow/ and MIWRC this weekend at the Art Splash Art Fair at South Central College in North Mankato from 11-4. 20% of proceeds from any MMIW red dress item will be donated to MIWRC.
RED Talk on Family Spirit
MIWRC’s Elizabeth Taylor-Schiro and Division of Indian Work’s Takayla Lightfield made a RED Talk about our newest program - Family Spirit Home Visiting.
Check it out here and share widely!
Loring Nicollet Alternative School to Host Fundraiser for MIWRC
You are invited to attend Cabaret, a talent show hosted by the Loring Nicollet Alternative School which takes place on May 30 at 6:00 at First Covenant Church. We are so honored to announce that the students chose to donate the proceeds from ticket and food sales to the Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Center. Come support students and MIWRC - it's going to be a great event!
Please share widely!
MIWRC in the media!
Three articles were recently published about MIWRC and our work. Check out the success of our first annual Indigenous Women’s March and learn more by following the links below.
First Indigenous Women’s March empowers survivors, offers support
After years of being ignored, renewed hope for Minnesota's missing and murdered indigenous women
Inaugural Indigenous Women’s March shines a light on the plight of missing and murdered native women
E-Newsletter Archive
Running for Our Lives - MMIW Marathon Team to Donate to MIWRC
A group of 7 courageous and generous indigenous women are running the Deadwood Marathon on June 2nd in South Dakota. They are running to raise awareness of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and to raise funds for organizations doing the front line work. MIWRC is honored to be one of the organizations chosen.
Find more information on their Facebook page here.
Donate on their event page here.
MIWRC Free Legal Clinic - Honoring 25 Years of Service
The Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center (MIWRC) is proud to announce that 2019 marks the 25th anniversary of our free Legal Clinic in partnership with Faegre Baker Daniels LLP. In recognition of 25 years of dedicated service from the talented and generous team at Faegre Baker Daniels LLP, we have created a tool for gathering feedback. Our goal is to show appreciation and gratitude to Faegre Baker Daniels LLP by highlighting the voices of the people they have helped throughout the last 25 years.
If you have accessed MIWRC’s free Legal Clinic which occurs every Wednesday from 1:00 – 3:00, please consider sharing about your experience. All responses are anonymous.
You can find the survey here:
http://miwrc-learningcenter.org/limesurvey/index.php/333477?lang=en
Please share widely!
Contact Ashley Lustig at alustig@miwrc.org or (612)728-2036 with any questions.
Sabo Scholars at Augsburg University to Hold Fundraiser for MIWRC!
Ally Art Project for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives
American Indian Recruitment Day with MN Department of Human Services
From the MN Department of Human Services:
“American Indian Recruitment Day American Indian DHS Staff will be at MAIC to help community members to input resumes into the state system. We will be available to answer questions about working at the state and to provide a list of current job openings. We will also offer sessions on writing cover letters and tailoring your resume to the job description. Please bring your resume on a thumb drive or just bring your hard copy to input into the state system. Please allow time for the information to be entered into the system for the first time. Once you are set up in the system, it is much easier to apply for future job openings at any state agency. First come, first assisted. Miigwetch, Pidamiya, Pinagigi.”
Hearing Their Voices Online Course
MIWRC’s Learning Center will soon offer online coursework. Coming soon, the first module is an online course for “Hearing Their Voices: The Persistence of Violence Against Native American Women and Girls.” It should take about 5 hours to complete. Upon finishing the course, MIWRC will send a certificate recognizing that the participant completed 5 hours of continuing education. At this time, our CEUs are issued only by us, but in future offerings we plan to get certification for CEUs from professional organizations as well.
Whatever happened to that Minneapolis homeless encampment?
MIWRC’s Executive Director, Patina Park, was featured in a podcast about the Franklin Hiawatha Encampment. Check it out here.
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women March, 2019
February 14, 2019 was a cold, snowy day and thousands showed up to march for the women who have gone missing and who have been murdered. The march was lead by the children.
